Literature is the best and sometimes the best literature is not presented in a classroom. Quirky and coy, sometimes content is awkward; therefore, you can read these honest book reviews before cracking the covers. This website contains Google Analytics and AdSense cookies to track marketing information, such as, clicks on links and views.

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Friday, February 5, 2010

Dead Sea Scrolls Uncovered by Robert Eisenman and Michael Wise

This interpretation of the Dead Sea Scrolls was thrown together after being released to foreign nations in 1989; therefore, it is not overly-analyzed. The book notes how Eisenman's original book is no more than a collection of the scrolls on facsimile. The introduction complains about how difficult it was gaining a copy of the artifacts from the fourth cave in Qumran.

The entire title is, "Dead Sea Scrolls Uncovered: the First Complete Translation and Interpretation of 50 Key Documents Withheld for over 35 Years." Published by the Penguin Group in 1992 topics relate to photographs in the midsection of the book and interpretations are spontaneous. Text 2 is identified as, "the Messianic Leader (Nasi)." Text 34 is identified as, "the Demons of Death (Beatitudes)."

Looking at the first photo caption it does not take long to realize Messianic Leader is pronounced "Nazi" in Yiddish. Even if the word is common in German, Nazis chose this word from millions. The Bedouin boys uncovered the first Qumran cave in 1947. Cave 4 was uncovered in 1954 well after World War II ended. On page 24 the author notes the modification, "Nasi ha-Edah," as a slant related to clumsy community leaders in current Hebrew dialects. The scrolls were not placed in order; however, wicked priest and Kittim frequently appear in similar documents.

Kittim is identified as sympathizers and heroes during the historical event. Plate 3 describes a city or building. A person might be able to draw it based on the description. Imagery of marble roads makes me think it is one building. The roads are passageways and houses are rooms. It has 1,432 towers. Since this is a translation from an earlier time a tower could be a tower, steeple or chimney.

In addition, in any context referring to Beatitudes, Nasi is modified to "righteous community leaders." Perhaps this is why the ancient people scribing these documents reduced the term to "clumsy." After following a similar path, they gained new objectivity.

The next point of interest revolves around, "Beatitudes." This is a modern English word. It could be pronounced "be-a-tudes," or "be attitudes." Clearly the interpretation existing before the translation is accurate. After the book's release it is simple to shift blame to other people. The Beatitudes are often described as being overly zealous for righteousness. One website about "Be Attitude" was developed in 1985. Two years before the book published in 1987. However, Beatitude means, "Demons of Blood." The site does not reflect this sentiment.

This in no way establishes them as being one and the same. Beatitudes cited in the scrolls crossover national, religious, cultural and political boundaries through common philosophical or social bonds. They are described as, "slaying backsliders," implying they kill their own people. Another scary English word shows up in similar scrolls, "ma' as." The definition is to reject or deny. This was not a colloquial term in 1960. In "the Servants of Darkness" the people are identified:

Let us fight His wars, for not know that by fire… gather courage for war, and you shall be reckoned... you shall ask of the experts of Righteous Judgment the service of... you shall be lifted up, for He chose you... for shouting... and you shall burn… and sweet...

The scrolls are incomplete; therefore, translation is incomplete. Other documents cite biblical and occult information. One of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, Belial, is identified as famine. Other books comment on religious practices during the time could unmask why the Pharisees were overly zealous in relation to Christ.

Several scribes contributed to the artifact, so the stories are fragmented. Similar to putting a puzzle together a person should have a copy of the bible, occult and history to look up references scattered throughout the book. Theologians, Paleontologists, riddle enthusiasts and anyone with a lot of time will enjoy this book. A phonetic version of the translation could assist in sectioning of the original Qumran scrolls.